Karachi: The Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) has launched a new management information system (MIS) namely Procurement Performance Management System (PPMS). The launch ceremony was held at a local hotel in Karachi on February 7. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, the minister for Food and Parliamentary Affairs who will serve as the chairman of the SPPRA Board, was the chief guest. The ceremony was also attended by the Industries Secretary, the Chief Economist, the P&D Secretary, and a senior procurement specialist from the World Bank as well as representatives of the Transparency International Pakistan, NAB Sindh, Balochistan PPRA and Karachi Contractors Association. A large number of officers from various departments of Sindh government, autonomous and semi autonomous bodies were also present. Highlighting the importance of the new system, Khalid Chahar, the managing director of the SPPRA, informed the meeting that the system had been developed with the assistance of the World Bank for increasing transparency, fairness and efficiency in the public procurement process. He said that the system will automate the procurement procedures and generate alerts and notification for its users for different requirements under Sindh Public Procurement Rules. He further apprised the gathering that the system also had a virtual meeting place where prospective bidders and suppliers could share information, ideas and suggestions with procuring agencies. The PPMS has a built-in complaints management system, which will allow complaints to lodge complaints directly. Tracking of complaints right from lodging to resolution will be available. Chachar said that procuring agencies will get a user ID and password by filling in online form on the system. The Senior Procurement Specialist, World Bank, while addressing the participants, informed the meeting that Sindh was the leading province in public procurement since the independence of the country and the MIS system developed and launched by the SPPRA was a need of the hour. She appreciated the efforts of the Sindh PPRA for taking innovative steps to make public procurement transparent and efficient. Industries Secretary, who had also served as the managing director of SPPRA, also praised the SPPRA team for their untiring efforts for achieving the gigantic task of automation of processes. The consultant who developed the PPMS system elaborated salient features of the system and gave a live demonstration of the system. While addressing on the occasion, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, said he hoped that the new system would boost development activities in the province. He emphasised upon the procuring agencies to shift on the new system and get themselves trained in its use. He praised the efforts taken by Sindh PPRA team. In the end, he inaugurated the PPMS. SPPRA souvenirs were given by SPPRA managing director to the chief guest and other distinguished guests. Published in Daily Times, February 9th2018.